A Real-Time Comparison of Four Particulate Matter Size Fractions in the Personal Breathing Zone of Paris Subway Workers: A Six-Week Prospective Study.

We developed a Bayesian spline model for real-time mass concentrations of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and PM0.3) measured simultaneously in the personal breathing zone of Parisian subway workers. The measurements were performed by GRIMM, a gravimetric method, and DiSCmini during the workers' work shifts over two consecutive weeks. The measured PM concentrations were analyzed with respect to the working environment, the underground station, and any specific events that occurred during the work shift. Overall, PM0.3 concentrations were more than an order of magnitude lower compared to the other PM concentrations and showed the highest temporal variation. The PM2.5 levels raised the highest exposure concern: 15 stations out of 37 had higher mass concentrations compared to the reference. Station PM levels were not correlated with the annual number of passengers entering the station, the year of station opening or renovation, or the number of platforms and tracks. The correlation with the number of station entrances was consistently negative for all PM sizes, whereas the number of correspondence concourses was negatively correlated with PM0.3 and PM10 levels and positively correlated with PM1 and PM2.5 levels. The highest PM10 exposure was observed for the station platform, followed by the subway cabin and train, while ticket counters had the highest PM0.3, PM1, and PM2.5 mass concentrations. We further found that compared to gravimetric and DiSCmini measurements, GRIMM results showed some discrepancies, with an underestimation of exposure levels. Therefore, we suggest using GRIMM, calibrated by gravimetric methods, for PM sizes above 1μm, and DiSCmini for sizes below 700 nm

HDLs protect the MIN6 insulinoma cell line against tunicamycin-induced apoptosis without inhibiting ER stress and without restoring ER functionality.

HDLs protect pancreatic beta cells against apoptosis induced by several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressors, including thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid, palmitate and insulin over-expression. This protection is mediated by the capacity of HDLs to maintain proper ER morphology and ER functions such as protein folding and trafficking. Here, we identified a distinct mode of protection exerted by HDLs in beta cells challenged with tunicamycin (TM), a protein glycosylation inhibitor inducing ER stress. HDLs were found to inhibit apoptosis induced by TM in the MIN6 insulinoma cell line and this correlated with the maintenance of a normal ER morphology. Surprisingly however, this protective response was neither associated with a significant ER stress reduction, nor with restoration of protein folding and trafficking in the ER. These data indicate that HDLs can use at least two mechanisms to protect beta cells against ER stressors. One that relies on the maintenance of ER function and one that operates independently of ER function modulation. The capacity of HDLs to activate several anti-apoptotic pathways in beta cells may explain their ability to efficiently protect these cells against a variety of insults

Construction of a Peptide Microarray for Auto-anti- body Detection: FH - HES

Peptide and protein microarrays provide a multiplex approach to identification and quantification of protein–protein interactions (PPI), useful to study for instance antigen–antibody properties. Multivariate serology assays detecting multiple tumor auto-antibodies (TAA) is an emerging class of blood tests for cancer detection. Here we describe the efficient coupling of peptide baits derived from the BRCA1-associated RING domain protein 1 (BARD1) to a solid surface and detection of a commercially available anti-BARD1 antibody with this newly designed peptide microarray. Analytical sensitivity and specificity were shown to be comparable to a microtiter plate based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

A new neuropsychological instrument measuring effects of age and drugs on fitness to drive: development, reliability, and validity of MedDrive

Background: Current guidelines underline the limitations of existing instruments to assess fitness to drive and the poor adaptability of batteries of neuropsychological tests in primary care settings. Aims: To provide a free, reliable, transparent computer based instrument capable of detecting effects of age or drugs on visual processing and cognitive functions. Methods: Relying on systematic reviews of neuropsychological tests and driving performances, we conceived four new computed tasks measuring: visual processing (Task1), movement attention shift (Task2), executive response, alerting and orientation gain (Task3), and spatial memory (Task4). We then planned five studies to test MedDrive's reliability and validity. Study-1 defined instructions and learning functions collecting data from 105 senior drivers attending an automobile club course. Study-2 assessed concurrent validity for detecting minor cognitive impairment (MCI) against useful field of view (UFOV) on 120 new senior drivers. Study-3 collected data from 200 healthy drivers aged 20-90 to model age related normal cognitive decline. Study-4 measured MedDrive's reliability having 21 healthy volunteers repeat tests five times. Study-5 tested MedDrive's responsiveness to alcohol in a randomised, double-blinded, placebo, crossover, dose-response validation trial including 20 young healthy volunteers. Results: Instructions were well understood and accepted by all senior drivers. Measures of visual processing (Task1) showed better performances than the UFOV in detecting MCI (ROC 0.770 vs. 0.620; p=0.048). MedDrive was capable of explaining 43.4% of changes occurring with natural cognitive decline. In young healthy drivers, learning effects became negligible from the third session onwards for all tasks except for dual tasking (ICC=0.769). All measures except alerting and orientation gain were affected by blood alcohol concentrations. Finally, MedDrive was able to explain 29.3% of potential causes of swerving on the driving simulator. Discussion and conclusions: MedDrive reveals improved performances compared to existing computed neuropsychological tasks. It shows promising results both for clinical and research purposes

Seasonal ecology of a species from the genus Monophadnus (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) on Helleborus spp. and biological control tests

Depuis plusieurs années, un insecte du genre Monophadnus (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae : Blennocampinae) cause de sérieux dégâts aux collections de plantes du genre Helleborus des Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de Genève (CJB). Cette étude avait pour objectif de mieux connaître l’écologie saisonnière de cette espèce grâce à la mise en place d'élevages et à des observations in situ. Des essais de lutte biologique ont été également menés avec des champignons entomopathogènes des espèces Beauveria bassiana et Isaria farinosa, ainsi qu’avec un insecticide biologique, l’azadirachtine, extrait d’Azadirachta indica (NeemAzal®T/S). Seuls le NeemAzal®T/S à la concentration de 0,5 % et Isaria farinosa à 107 spores/ml ont permis de réduire significativement la population de cette espèce de Monophadnus provoquant des mortalités de 40 à 50 % plus élevées que dans le procédé témoin.For several years, an insect species from the genus Monophadnus (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae: Blennocampinae) has been causing serious damage to Helleborus plant collections in the Botanical Conservatory and Garden of Geneva (CJB). This work aimed to identify the seasonal ecology of this species, through insect rearing and observations under in situ conditions. Biological control methods were also assayed using strains of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Isaria farinosa, as well as a commercial biological insecticide, the azadirachtin, extracted from Azadirachta indica (NeemAzal®T/S). Only the applications of NeemAzal®T/S at 0.5 % concentration and Isaria farinosa at 107 spores/ml led to significantly reduce the population of this species of Monophadnus, by causing mortality 40 to 50 % higher than in the control

SCALABLE CASCADED SNAP-IN ACTUATORS FOR LARGE-STROKE DISPLACEMENTS

This paper will focus on the design, and first measurements of a cascaded in-plane parallel plate snap-in actuator. The actuator is based on a rather simple microfabrication process and can achieve a total displacement of several tenths of microns. Compared to classical noncascaded transducer device based on parallel plates or comb-drive actuator, the actuation voltage is relatively low due to the snap-in phenomenon of electrostatic actuators. The electromechanical response of such a device is sequential. The fabricated 4-stage device shows a total stroke of 75 μm at 60 V. It is possible to easily increase the total stroke of the actuator by increasing the number of stages. Only one input electrode is required. Simulations with CoventorWare showed easy scalability of the concept for up to 19 stages with a total displacement of 350 μm

Low-Power Chip-Scale Rubidium Plasma Light Source for Miniature Atomic Clocks

We present the development, testing and characterization of a low-power chip-scale Rubidium (Rb) plasma light source designed to serve for optical pumping in miniature atomic clocks. The technique used is electrodeless capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) discharge, driven in a microfabricated Rb vapor cell. The device is electrically driven at frequencies between 1 and 36 MHz to emit 140 μW of stable optical power while coupling < 6 mW of electrical power to the discharge cell. To our knowledge this is the first reported Rb plasma emitted from a chip-scale device